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IBEW Local 98 members, who didn't want to give their names, hold up large photos of Tom Wolf's face outside Famous 4th Street Deli in Philadelphia on Election Day on November 4, 2014. ( DAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer )

Philly Clout Team

WE CALL IT the Daily News hot seat - a table at the Famous 4th Street Deli where Clout asks the city's politicians three questions each Election Day.

The questions for yesterday's general-election crowd were:

* Who will be the next mayor of Philadelphia?

* Who will be the Democratic nominee to challenge U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey in 2016?

* And will U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah be seeking a 12th term in the U.S. House in two years or fighting a federal indictment?

Yes, we save the zinger for our final question.

Here's how Mayor Nutter responded to our third question:

"That may go on the Top 5 list of all-time f---ed-up questions."

Is there a trophy for that?

Fattah's longtime friend and political consultant, Greg Naylor, pleaded guilty in August to hiding the receipt and repayment of an illegal $1 million loan in the 2007 mayor's race. Naylor's plea memo didn't name Fattah but it was clear he is the "Elected Official A" named in that document.

On the mayor's race, Nutter said he expects the field to firm up in the next month or so but can't say who the winner will be.

He also had no idea who will face Toomey in 2016.

As for Fattah, Nutter saw no reason to stop him for running for another term in two years.

City Council President Darrell Clarke, a potential candidate for mayor, used the old dodge yesterday of saying he had to focus on the race for governor when asked about 2015. That dodge expires today, he laughingly acknowledged.

Clarke said Toomey was expected to be an "easy target" as an ultraconservative but has turned out to be a pleasant surprise.

"I don't want to jinx him by saying he's been somewhat of a moderate Republican, but he has been very receptive to some of the concerns that we've raised in the city of Philadelphia," Clarke said.

On Fattah, Clarke said he has no idea what comes next.

District Attorney Seth Williams is betting on state Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams as the city's next mayor.

For Toomey, D.A. Williams sees former U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak or Montgomery County Commission Chairman Josh Shapiro as likely opponents. There was one person Williams ruled out.

"It will not be Kathleen Kane," said Williams, who has clashed with the state attorney general.

As for Fattah, Williams said, "He has a significant legal battle on his hands, currently."